Download full text
(external source)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v7i3.2156
Exports for your reference manager
The European Parliament as an Arena and Agent in the Politics of Climate Change: Comparing the External and Internal Dimension
[journal article]
Abstract Climate change policy is a key example for globalized multi-level governance, involving the European Parliament (EP) both as legislator of internal European Union (EU) regulation and discursive agent in global climate negotiations. Based on the comparison of decision-making in external and internal ... view more
Climate change policy is a key example for globalized multi-level governance, involving the European Parliament (EP) both as legislator of internal European Union (EU) regulation and discursive agent in global climate negotiations. Based on the comparison of decision-making in external and internal climate change policy, the article investigates the link between the role of the EP as a political actor and arena for the interaction of competing party groups: Does EP involvement in negotiations on legally binding legislation prompt or constrain partisan polarization in comparison to declaratory statements about future goals of climate action? Harnessing a discursive institutionalist theoretical framework, the article compares EP resolutions about annual Conferences of the Parties (COPs 20 to 24) with the revision of four legislative acts for Phase IV of EU Climate Action: namely, emissions trading, effort sharing between Member States, the promotion of renewable energies, and energy efficiency standards. Using roll-call voting data and the review of legislative documentation, the contribution tracks the emergence and negotiation of political conflict in these two sets of cases. Overall, the case studies indicate a low level of external politicization, as indicated by low party group polarization, internalization of political conflict at the committee level, and compromise-building between issue dimensions.... view less
Classification
European Politics
Special areas of Departmental Policy
Free Keywords
European Parliament; European Union; climate change policy; conference of the parties; discursive institutionalism; emissions trading; politicization
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
Page/Pages
p. 327-338
Journal
Politics and Governance, 7 (2019) 3
Issue topic
Out of the Shadows, Into the Limelight: Parliaments and Politicisation
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed